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Thousands of Military Retirees Are About to Find Out They Have No Tricare Select Coverage

January 11, 2021 by Military Benefit Guide

Nearly 175,000 military retirees and family members may soon find out they have lost their Tricare Select coverage.

Starting this year, retirees were required to pay a new monthly enrollment fee to keep their Tricare Select coverage.  But about 20 percent of beneficiaries have not set up a payment plan to continue their coverage, which was supposed to be done by December 31, 2020.

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The number of retirees who will be losing coverage is quite concerning, but not surprising, said Karen Ruedisueli, director of health affairs for the Military Officers Association.

The new premiums only affect those who are on Tricare Select.  If you use any of the other Tricare programs you will not incur the new premium.

Additionally, there are several groups who do NOT need to worry about the payment:

  • Military retirees who got a medical discharge, along with their family members
  • Survivors
  • Active-duty Military members and their families

In 2021, for the first time, retirees and family members enrolled in Tricare Select, must pay enrollment fees in order to continue their coverage. If you haven’t responded to the Defense Department’s clarion call to contact your Tricare regional contractor to set up a payment process, you lost coverage as of Jan. 1, and you’ll soon find your health care claims are denied.

These are so-called “Group A” retirees and their dependents — working-age retirees under age 65 who entered the military before Jan. 1, 2018, their family members and survivors. Previously, these beneficiaries didn’t have to pay enrollment fees for Tricare Select, but a 2017 law required the Defense Department to start charging these enrollment fees by Jan. 1, 2021.

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If you are one of the retirees who just found out you lost your Tricare Select coverage, here’s what you need to know.  The Defense Health Agency recently extended the grace period for you to re-enroll to 180 days.  You must reach out to the regional Tricare contractor and request your coverage be reinstated.  If you then pay the enrollment fees dating back to January 1, 2021, you should be able to get back in good standing.  Tricare will then pay for previously denied claims once coverage is reinstated.

The new fees are $150 a year for individuals (or $12.50 per month), and $300 a year for families (or $25 per month).

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: healthcare, Veterans

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacy Henderson says

    January 11, 2021 at 9:10 am

    After serving in The U.S. Army for 22 years and being told that medical insurance and/care was at no cost, and to be notified through a news release that there’s a premium is irresponsible from the government and to those that have served. What’s next to decrease our retirement at some point. Legislation be damn.

  2. Richard McDufg says

    January 11, 2021 at 9:27 am

    Does this effect Tri-Care for Life?

  3. chuck gibbs says

    January 11, 2021 at 9:42 am

    This is a breach of trust. To now mandate such a change to military retirement provisions is simply not right. If it in fact needs to be implemented start it now with personnel entering active duty ! This will effect millions of retirees..and that is a voting block you should not mess with. Social media is a wonderful tool! It can reach millions of voters! Govern your actions accordingly!!

  4. chuck gibbs says

    January 11, 2021 at 9:47 am

    this is a breach of trust…Medical coverage was an implied and specificed provision of military retirement. You are about to upset an enormous voting block…are you certain you want to pursue this course of action? Govern yourself accordingly!!

  5. terry Ingledue says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:22 am

    Why am I just finding this out? I need a Phone number to call some one.

  6. chuck gibbs says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:31 am

    This is clearly a breach of an implied and specified retirement provision. There has been to my knowlege no prior notification of chage in coverage! what does one do to gain compliance??

  7. chuck gibbs says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:35 am

    Military retirees and their imediate and extended families constitute a very large voting block…Govern your actions accordingly!!

  8. Benjamin Lucciola says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:47 am

    How do I know or where can I find out if I had lost my Tricare coverage?
    I am not sure if I ever got a number because I was asked what my Tricare number is

  9. charles morgera says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:52 am

    Don’t understand this program. I retired after 21 and a half years in Dec 1973 does this apply to me.

  10. Jane Meland says

    January 11, 2021 at 12:23 pm

    I am on Tricare for Life and I did not receive anything in the mail, please explain. I am the spouse of a retired military also he is deceased.

    Jane Meland

  11. Clarence Andrews Jr. says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    When I was drafted on 3 August 1965 spending 20 plus year of my life serving my country what do I get for it a pay check that pay my mortgage and a few dollars extra. I was promise to be taken care of for the rest of my life, that’s call
    breach of contract. As time went on the service decline now having to pay monthly for dental, health care and pharmacy, what does Tricare for Life mean. What will be taken away next

  12. Robert Law Porter says

    January 11, 2021 at 6:29 pm

    I am a retired veteran, but I don’t remember ever hearing or seeing the term “Tricare Select”. I do have Tricare as my secondary coverage after Medicare; how do I find out if this is just Tricare or if it is Tricare Select?

  13. 1SG Tony Reaux says

    January 11, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    I was promised TriCare medical after my 22 yrs of active duty. Is this how the government is going to treat me & my brothers & sisters after protecting and dying for Americans??

  14. Sunni says

    January 11, 2021 at 8:42 pm

    As a survivor of a deceased veteran, I am appalled having to spend $150 yearly to continue medical coverage that my husband paid his life for me to have. To whom ever decided this is a good ideal, you are a shameless. pathetic, and ignorant bunch of dumb asses! You can never be considered Patriotic after you have forced this debt on me and many other widowers in my situation with a fixed income.

  15. Guy Matthews Sr. says

    January 12, 2021 at 8:37 am

    Money crazy, bait and switch. I was told serving your country entitled service members free medical insurance for the rest of your life. Shame on America.

  16. Charles E Helm says

    January 12, 2021 at 8:50 am

    My personal opinion is that the Government should be doing more for all Veterans, not cutting things out!

  17. James H. Morgan says

    January 12, 2021 at 8:55 am

    Does THIS include ” TRICARE FOR LIFE” ??

  18. Raymond Petersen says

    January 12, 2021 at 9:01 am

    I did hear if you are over 65 then Tricare is for life takes place, however, Medicare becomes primary and Tricare becomes secondary. The kicker is then you are forced to buy Medicare part B for around $140 a month! That sucks and shame on America making retirees pay for part of medical!

  19. William R. Kruse says

    January 12, 2021 at 9:16 am

    Is trickle for life still at no cost?

  20. Wally says

    January 12, 2021 at 9:31 am

    Congress gave a $46,000.00 raise and we get $600.00 thanks nannies p ?,$?(?)?$)7?) gn bin u

  21. Joseph J Heigl says

    January 12, 2021 at 10:05 am

    With the money we the people pay our congress people, maybe they should pay for their own healthcare. This way they can pay for healthcare for our military personnel– serving and retired. Joseph Heigl USAF E 7 retired since 1987.

  22. MSgt Roger Bon, USAF Retired says

    January 12, 2021 at 10:39 am

    Tri Care for Life came about as a result of a similar incident in 2003. I turned 65 in 2003 and was notified that my Tri Care would stop and I would have to only have Medicare. Many retirees read our enlistment contract and noted a statement that our and our families medical care was for life.

    I would advise all others to read their initial enlistment contract and then depending on what you discover fight this through the courts and Congress.

  23. John Fulgencio says

    January 12, 2021 at 11:48 am

    Same here. Spend 20 yrs. and 40% disability, what do I get, a bill from VA with so much amount to pay by Jan. Even Tri care for Life won’t pick up the tab. What a shame !!!

  24. Alton R. Stratmann says

    January 12, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Is Tricare for life exempt from this fee.

  25. Joseph M Mcghee says

    January 12, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    We at the moment have TRI CARE for life, my wife and myself. Does this change?

  26. Daniel Coll says

    January 13, 2021 at 4:51 am

    Never received anything in the mail or email. What is this? Can I get it straighten out?

  27. Terry Shay says

    January 16, 2021 at 9:38 am

    I believe there is such at hing as “the third rail” in politics as it pertains to Social Security; touch it to change anything downward to social and the politician and the touching of the third rail (meaning the one charged with electricity) you put your career in question — no vote for you! Well, I believe that same third rail also exists within the military retired community. I’ll put this as straight as I can, we retired have already dealt with very poor pay days, Enough is enough!! Stop taking from us and remember the promise you made to us for placing our lives in harms way for this country.

    Terry Shay, USAF (ret)

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